Apparatus for handling metal sheeting



NOV. 8, 1966 BUCCICQNE I 3,283,980

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING METAL SHEETING Filed Nov. 19, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WWW? 5 Nov. 8, 1966 D. BUCCICONE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING METAL SHEETING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1964 Nov. 8, 1966 D. BUCCICONE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING METAL SHEETING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 19, 1964 1966 D. BUCCICONE APPARATUS FOR HANDLING METAL SHEETING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 19, 1,964

United States Patent 3,283,980 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING METAL SHEETDIG Dario Buccicone, Gary, Ind., assignor to Bucciconi Engineering (10., Inc., Gary, Ind., a corporation of Ind ana Filed Nov. 19, 1964, Ser. No. 412,496 14 Claims. (Cl. 226-93) This invention relates to apparatus for handling metal sheeting in strip or coil form and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a magnetic conveyor which may be used for unwinding a metal coil and holding the uncoiled strip in a vertically disposed path while it is advanced through processing equipment or the like.

In connection with recently developed systems of treating metal sheeting which is in coil form, apparatus has been developed which receives the metal strip as it is unwound from a relatively loose coil, and which passes the strip through processing equipment for annealing, coating or otherwise treating the surfaces, after which the strip is rewound in a tight coil for storing or other handling. The apparatus heretofore developed has not proved satisfactory, principally because it does not provide adequate control of the strip, and it is a general object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus which will guide the strip while holding it in a generally vertical plane, which will advance it through the processing equipment while maintaining control of the movement of the strip, which will regulate the speed thereof and which will also maintain the required tension in the strip so as to insure a tight coil is wound at the end of the operation.

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a device for guiding a metal strip in a vertically disposed path as it is unwound from a loose coil thereof and for holding the strip under tension while advancing it at a controlled rate through processing equipment and thereby enabling the strip to be rewound into a tight coil at the end of the processing operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for the purpose described which is in the form of a conveyor mounted on an upright frame and having endless traveling belts with a strip contacting face which travels in a vertically extending plane and which is curved in the direction of advance of the strip to conform somewhat to the curvature of the strip as it is drawn from the coil and electromagnets associated with the belts which hold the strip against the vertical face of the conveyor by magnetic attraction.

It is another object of the invention to provide a conveyor having traveling belts disposed so as to form a vertically disposed work surface and associated electromagnets for holding thereon a strip of relatively thin sheet steel or like metal so as to advance the same along a curved path while it is maintained on edge and in a substantially vertical plane.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an electromagnetic conveyor which is particularly adapted for use in connection with annealing, coating or other treatment, in a continuous manner, of steel sheeting or strip in coil form wherein the strip is unwound from a loose coil and advanced through processing equipment while it is supported on its bottom edge and sufiicient tension is maintained in the strip to insure that it is rewound into a tight coil at the end of the annealing or other proc essing.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the apparatus which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying the principles of the invention, the view being more or less schematic and illustrating the use thereof in connection 'ice with the processing or treatment vof coiled metal strip material;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation, to a larger scale, of the back or non-working side of theconveyor shown in FIGURE 1, with portions omitted or broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the conveyor to a still larger scale, the view being taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1, and having portions broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a partial vertical cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, to an enlarged scale and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view, to an enlarged scale, and with portions broken away of the conveyor belt tensioning mechanism;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section, taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7, with portions broken away;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan view, to an enlarged scale, of the tensioning mechanism for the individual belts; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevation, with parts broken away, of the tensioning mechanism of FIGURE 9.

The apparatus is shown in the drawings, for purpose of illustration, as employed in a coil annealing or coating operation and includes a strip .guiding and carrying conveyor 10 which is interposed between processing equipment, indicated at 11 (FIGURE 1), and .a loosely wound supply coil, indicated at 12, from which the strip S is drawn by the conveyor 10 and delivered to the entrance end of the processing equipment 11. At the completion of the processing the treated strip S is rewound into a coil 13 for storage or subsequent handling, suitable rewind equipment (not shown) being provided for windmg the strip S into the coil 13. The process is continuous and the strip S is delivered by the conveyor 10 to the processing equipment 11 at a predetermined rate of spee The conveyor 10 (FIGURES 1 to 3) comprises an upright supporting frame structure 15 set on a platformlike base 16 The supporting frame 15 has parallel top and bottom frame members 17 and 18 and the frame is curved in the longitudinal direction so as to provide an outermost working face which has a curvature as shown in FIGURE 1. The conveyor frame structure 15 (FIG-v URES 2 and 3) is arranged on the platform 16 so that the vertically extending working face which carries the strip S is disposed in a plane which is offset outwardly of the corresponding vertical face or edge 19 of the supporting platform 16 and the bottom frame member 18 is raised above the floor or other supporting surface for the apparatus, the thickness or height of the platform 16-.

Three relatively wide belts 20, 21 and 22 are carried on the frame 15 and are supported at opposite ends thereof by vertically disposed supporting rolls 23 and 24 which are journaled at their top and bottom ends in the top and bottom frame members 17 and 18. The belts 20, 21 and 22 are of identical construction and of the type which are illustrated in my Patent No. 2,847,111, dated August 12, 1958. They have associated supporting and guiding structure and electromagnetic assemblies for providing magnetic force to hold the metal strip against the working faces of the belts as described in Patent No. 2,847,111 to which reference may be had for details thereof. The belts 20, 21 and 22 are each provided with laterally spaced, longitudinally extending grooves 25 (FIGURE 4) which are of truncated V-shaped cross section. The grooves 25 open inwardly and are adapted to accommodate rib formations 26 of corresponding cross section which extend from the faces of vertically disposed plates 27 connecting the spaced side plates 28 of adjoining rection and are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. Each of the magnetic assemblies 30 comprises a pair of parallel, spaced side plates 28 and a series of core members 31 which extend between and connect the side plates 28 and which carry the coils 32. The side plates 28 serve as extensions of the magnet pole pieces 31 and together with the plates 27 provide a flux path through the belts 20, 21 and 22 soas to exert magnetic pull on the strip S (FIGURES 3 to Each magnet assembly 30 has a roller 33 for supporting the belts 20, 21 and 22 between the plates 27. Each roller 33 is journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearing members mounted on the top and bottom frame members 17 and 18 and each roller 33 may be divided into two or more sections. A drive motor 34 (FIGURES l to 3) is mounted on an upright bracket 35 at the leading end of the conveyor frame and has its output shaft 36 connected by a right angle drive unit 37 with the shaft 38 for the end support roll 24.

The conveyor 10 is provided along its bottom margin with a support for the bottom edge of the strip S which comprises a relatively narrow belt member 40 (FIG- URES 3, 4 and 6) having a truncated cone cross section. The V-belt 40 carries a top edge strip 41 (FIGURES 4 and 6) of molded plastic, preferably polyurethyne, having molded therein a series of longitudinally spaced, clip forming metal plates 42, each with a lug extension 43 which fits into a groove 44 in the top edge of the body portion of the belt. The edge supporting V-belt is carried along the working face of the conveyor on a plurality of spaced supporting rollers or wheels 45 which are mounted on stub-shafts 46 extending forwardly of a supporting bar 47 depending from the bottom frame member 18. The support wheels 45 are provided with a circumferential edge groove 48 having a generally V-shaped cross section in which the lower edge 50 of the belt 40 rides. The uppermost face 51 of the belt 40 is spaced from the bottom edge of the belt 22 by short bars 52 which are mounted on the plates 27 on which the belts 22 ride. The inside or back face of the belt 40 rides on the rollers 33 of the assemblies 30 as shown in FIGURE 4 and the belt supporting rollers 23- and 24 at the ends of the frame 15 are provided with groove formations 53 (FIGURE 3) for carrying the belt 40.

The return runs of the belts 20, 21, 22 and 40 are supported by an idler roller 55 (FIGURES 1 and 2) journaled at its opposite ends in the top and bottom frame members 17 and 18 and take-up roll assembly indicated at 56 in FIGURE 2. As shown more particularly in FIGURES 7 and 8, the take-up roller assembly 56 comprises the roll 57 which is in a fixed position and the roll 5-8 which is adjustably positioned. The roll 57 is rotatably mounted on a vertically disposed shaft 59, journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings mounted on the top and bottom frame members 17 and 18. The shaft 59 is extended at its top end and carries a gear 60 which engages with a worm 61 on a small stub shaft 62. The shaft 62 is journaled in suitable brackets 63 and 63' on a supporting base plate 64 on the top of the frame member 17 and extended at one end at 62' to receive a tool for turning the same so as to rotate the shaft 59. A pair of bracket forming arms 65 and 65' extend radially from opposite ends of the shaft 59 and carry at their free ends a shaft 67 on which the roll 58 is rotatably mounted. The roller 57 is preferably provided with belt engaging ribs 68 of the same character as ribs 26 for holding the belts against axial movement and a groove formation 69 is provided at the lowermost end to receive the V-belt 40. The belts 20, 21 and 22 are threaded through the rolls 57 and 58 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 7. Rotation of the shaft 59 moves the roller 58 toward and from the belts 20, 21 and 22.

Provision is made for tensioning each of the individual belts by a belt tensioning mechanism indicated at 7 0 in FIGURE 1 and shown more particularly in FIGURES 9 and 10. The belt tensioning apparatus 71) (FIGURES 9 and 10) includes a belt carrying roller 71 with ribs on the surface thereof which is rotatably mounted on a vertically disposed shaft 72 journaled in suitable bearing plates 73 on the top and bottom frame members 17 and 18. A pair of radially extending bracket forming support arms 74 and 74' are mounted at top and bottom ends of the shaft 72. A pivot ll'Od 75 extends between the free ends of the arms 74 and 74' which provides a support for pivota-lly mounting a U-shaped bracket 76 associated with each of the belts 20, 21 and 22. Each bracket 76 is mounted on the pivot rod 75 and carries at the free ends of the two arms 77 and 77' a roller 80 mounted on a shaft 81, with the [roller 80 being adapted to bear against the outside face of the belt 20, 21 or 22 with which it is associated. The bracket 76 has a bifurcated arm 82 extending radially from the hub forming portion 78 which is connected by the pin 83 to the end of the threaded I bolt 84. The I bolt 84 is disposed in generally parallel relation with the axis of the arm 74 and extends through a pivot bearing 85 mounted in a bracket 86. A compression spring 87 is carried on the bolt 84 between the arm 82 and the bracket 86. A nut 88 on the threaded end of the 1 bolt 84 permits the radial position of the bracket 76 to be adjusted so as to vary the pressure on the outside face of the belt. A tensioning bracket 89 is provided at the bottom of the assembly 70 with roller 90 of the same construction as bracket 76 and roller 80 for carrying the strip edge supporting belt 40 and having the same spring tensioning arrangement. The fixed shaft '72 is extended at its upper end and carries a gear 91 which engages with a worm 92 mounted on a short shaft 93 journaled in a bracket 94 extending upwardly of the base plate 73. The shaft 93 is extended at one end and provided with a tool-engaging end formation 96 to permit manual turning of the shaft 72 so as to move the rollers 80 and 90 out of engagement with the belts. A

In using the apparatus the belts 20, 21 and 22 are threaded onto the conveyor as shown in FIGURE 1, the rolls 55, 80 and 9%) being mounted so that they may be readily removed for replacement of damaged or badly worn belts. The belt take-up apparatus 56 is first adjusted and then the individual belt tensioning devices of the assembly 70. The conveyor 10 is then ready for operation. In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1, the meta-l sheet or strip 5 is unwound from the loosely wound coil 12 and advanced by belts 2t), 21 and 22 while held by magnetic pull against the bowed vertical face of the conveyor 10 for delivery to the processing apparatus 11 after which the processed strip S is rewound into the tight coil 13. The speed of advance of the strip is controlled by the variable speed drive motor 34 so that proper tension is obtained in the processed strip S during rewinding thereof into the coil 13.

While particular materials and specific details of construction are referred to in describing the illustrated form of the apparatus, it will be understood that other materials and different structural details may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for 'handling elongate, metal sheeting which is unwound from one coil and subsequently rewound into another coil, said apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having a bowed face, two spaced rollers journ-aled at opposite ends of the frame for rotation on vertical axes, means for driving one of said rollers, a plurality of endless belt members of rubber-like material and of substantial width supported on said end rollers, electromagnets positioned beneath said belt members for exerting a pull on metal sheeting so as to hold it against the outwardly bowed face of the one run of the belt members for advance therewith, said belt members having parallel grooves on their inner faces extending throughout their length, rib formations on the bowed face of said support frame which are positioned to extend into said grooves and to hold said belt members in predetermined paths, and a relatively nanrow support belt carried on said end rollers at the bottom of said frame which support belt has an upwardly facing edge of sufficient width for receiving thereon in edge supporting relation the bottom edge portions of a strip of sheeting as it is advanced by said endless belt members.

2. Apparatus for handling elongate metal sheeting which is unwound from one coil and subsequently rewound into another coil, said apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having a bowed face, two spaced rollers journaled at opposite ends of the frame for rotation on vertical axes, means for driving one of said rollers, a plurality of endless belt members of rubber-like material and of substantial height supported on said end rollers, electromagnets associated with said be-lt members for exerting a pull on metal sheeting in order to hold it against the outwardly bowed face of the one run of the belt members, said belt members having parallel grooves extending throughout the length of their inner faces, parallel rib formations on the bowed face of said support frame which are received in said grooves for holding said belt members in generally horizontal paths, and a relatively narrow belt carried on said end rollers at the bottom of said frame which has an upwardly facing edge of sufficient width to support thereon the bottom edge portions of a strip of said metal sheeting as it is held against said outwardly bowed face for advance by said belt members.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, and a plurality of supporting wheel members spaced along the bottom of said conveyor on which the lower edge of said relatively narrow belt rides.

4. Apparatus for handling elongate metal sheeting which is unwound from a supply coil and subsequently rewound into another coil, said apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having an outwardly bowed, vertical face extending between the ends thereof and belt carrying rollers journaled at the ends of the frame for rotation on vertical axes, means for driving one of said rollers, a plurality of endless belt members of rubber-like material and of substantial width supported on said belt carrying rollers and electromagnets mounted on said support frame beneath said belt members for exerting a pull on metal sheeting advanced from the supply coil so as to hold it against the outwardly bowed vertical face of the one run of the belt members while the belt members advance, said belt members having parallel grooves extending throughout the length of their inner faces, said electromagnets having pole extensions in the form of ribs on the bowed face of said support frame which ribs are received in said belt grooves, tension means for said belt members which hold the belt members on said ribs so that said belt members are advanced in predetermined paths, and means extending along the bottom edge of the vertical face of said frame for supporting the bottom edge of the metal sheeting.

5. Apparatus for conveying metal sheeting in a curved path with the sheeting disposed on edge and in a vertical plane, said apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having an outwardly bowed, vertical face extending between the opposite ends thereof, belt carrying rollers journaled at the ends of said support frame for rotation on longitudinally spaced, vertical axes, a plurality of endless belt members of flexible material and of substantial width supported in side-byside relation on said belt carrying rollers, power means for driving one of said belt carrying rollers to advance a run of said belt members along said bowed face, electromagnet assemblies mounted on said support frame beneath said belt members and exerting a pull on metal sheeting advanced thereon so as to urge it against the outwardly bowed vertical face of the belt members, said belt members having parallel, longitudinal grooves in their inner faces, said electromagnet assemblies including pole extensions in the form of ribs disposed on the bowed face of said support frame which ribs are positioned so as to be received in the grooves in said belt members, tension applying means for said belt members which hold the belt members with said ribs seated in the grooves thereof whereby said belt members are advanced in predetermined paths along the bowed face of said support frame, and a belt member mounted on the bottom portions of said belt carrying rollers at the ends of said support frame which has an upwardly facing edge surface projecting beyond the vertical faces of said wide belt members a sufficient distance to form a traveling shelf for supporting the bottom edge of sheeting advanced along said bowed face.

6. Apparatus for conveying elongate metal sheeting in edge supported, vertically disposed relation, said apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having a bowed face, spaced rollers journaled at opposite ends of the frame for rotation on vertical axes, means for driving one of said rollers, endless belt members of flexible material and of substantial width supported in side-by-side relation on said rollers, electromagnet assemblies associated with said belt members for exerting a pull on metal sheeting positioned against the outwardly bowed face of the belt members, means on the bowed face of said support frame for holding said belt members in predetermined paths, and a belt member carried on said rollers at the bottom of said frame which has an upwardly facing top edge projecting beyond the plane of the adjacent belt member for supporting thereon the bottom edge of the sheeting as it is advanced along the bowed face thereof.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6, and spaced rollers disposed along the bottom edge of said support frame on which the bottom edge of said bottom belt member is adapted to ride.

8. Apparatus for conveying elongate metal sheet material, said conveying apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having a bowed face, two longitudinally spaced rollers journaled at opposite ends of the frame for rotation on vertical axes, means for driving one of said rollers, a relatively wide endless belt member of flexible material supported on said rollers, electromagnet assemblies associated with said belt member for exerting a pull on a metal sheet positioned against the outwardly bowed face of the belt member, means on the bowed face of said support frame for guiding said belt member in a predetermined path, and a relatively narrow endless belt member carried on said end rollers at the bottom of said frame which has an upwardly facing edge of suflicient width to support thereon the bottom edge of a sheet as itis advanced along said bowed face.

9. Apparatus as recitedin claim 8, and a plurality of supporting wheel members spaced along the bottom margin of said conveyor frame on which the lower edge of said relatively narrow belt member rides.

10. Apparatus for conveying elongate metal sheeting,

said apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having an outwardly bowed, vertically extending face between the ends thereof and a belt carrying roller journaled at each end of the support frame for rotation on a vertical axis, a plurality of endless belt members of substantial width supported on said belt carrying rollers, means for driving one of said belt carrying rollers so as to advance the belt members along said bowed face, electromagnet assemblies mounted on said support frame beneath said belt-members for exerting a pull on metal sheeting advanced thereon so as to hold it against the belt members while the one run of the belt members advances along said outwardly bowed face, said belt members having parallel longitudinal grooves in their inner faces, said electromagnet assemblies having pole extensions in the form of ribs disposed on the bowed face of said support frame which ribs are received in said grooves and form a flux path through the belt members, means for tensioning said belt members whereby to hold the belt members on said ribs so that said belt members are advanced in predetermined paths, and means at the lower edge of said support frame adapted to support the lower edge of the metal sheeting.

11. Apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said belt tensioning means comprises a slack take-up device engaging all the belt members and devices for applying tension to the individual belt members which are characterized by a belt engaging roller fixed on said support frame in parallel spaced relation to one of the belt carrying rollers at the end of said support frame and a pivotally mounted frame having a roller for applying pressure to the outer faces of the individual belt members between the belt engaging fixed roller and one of the belt carrying rollers at an end of said support frame.

12. Apparatus for handling elongate metal sheeting comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having a bowed face, two spaced rollers journaled at opposite ends of the frame for rotation on vertical axes,

' means for driving one of said rollers, a relatively wide endless belt member of substantial width supported on said end rollers, electromagnets positioned beneath said wide belt member for exerting a pull on metal sheeting so as to hold it against said outwardly bowed face, means for guiding said wide belt member along the bowed face of said support frame in a generally horizontal path, and a relatively narrow belt carried on said end rollers at the bottom of said support frame which narrow belt has an upwardly facing edge of suflicient width for extending outboard of the vertical face of said wide belt member so as to receive thereon in edge supporting relation the bottom edge portions of a strip of sheeting as it is advanced by said wide belt member.

13. Apparatus as recited in claim 12, and said narrow belt having a top edge portion of a continuous plastic 8 material and reinforcing inserts of relatively hard material embedded therein.

14. Apparatus for conveying elongate metal sheeting with the sheeting disposed on edge and in a vertical plane, said apparatus comprising an upright, generally rectangular support frame having an outwardly bowed, vertical- -ly extending face between opposite ends thereof, belt carrying rollers journaled at the ends of the frame for rotation on vertical axes, means for driving One of said rollers, a plurality of relatively wide endless belt member-s supported on said belt carrying rollers, electromagnet assemblies mounted on said support frame beneath said belt members and exerting a pull on metal sheeting advanced thereon so as to urge it against the outwardly bowed vertical face of the belt members while the belt members advance, said belt members having parallel grooves extending longitudinally of their inner faces, said electromagnet assemblies including pole extensions in the form of ribs. on the bowed face of said support frame which ribs are positioned so as to be received in the grooves of said belt members and form belt guides while providing a flux path through said belt members, tension means for said belt members which is operative to pull the belt members against said ribs so that said belt membars are advanced in predetermined paths, and a relatively narrow bottom belt member supported on said belt carrying rollers which has a top surface with portions projecting outwardly of the vertical face of said wide belt members for supporting thereon the bottom edge of the sheeting.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,847,111 4/ 1958 Buccicone 198-41 2,907,450 10/1959 Reid 198-208 2,941,653 6/1960 Kriemelmeyer 198165 X 3,057,529 10/1962 Fitch.

EVON o. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

R. J. HICKEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ELONGATE METAL SHEETING WHICH IS UNWOUND FROM ONE COIL AND SUBSEQUENTLY REWOUND INTO ANOTHER COIL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SUPPORT FRAME HAVING A BOWED FACE, TWO SPACED ROLLERS JOURNALED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE FRAME FOR ROTATION ON VERTICAL AXES, MEANS FOR DRIVING ONE OF SAID ROLLERS, A PLURALITY OF ENDLESS BELT MEMBERS OF RUBBER-LIKE MATERIAL AND OF SUBSTANTIAL WIDTH SUPPORTED ON SAID END ROLLERS, ELECTROMAGNETS POSITIONED BENEATH SAID BELT MEMBERS FOR EXERTING A PULL ON METAL SHEETING SO AS TO HOLD IT AGAINST THE OUTWARDLY BOWED FACE OF THE ONE RUN OF THE BELT MEMBERS FOR ADVANCE 